Pereskia

Stems straight or zig-zag. Spines 1–12 per areole. Flowers from areoles of new growth, fragrant or not; outer tepals often greenish, colored near margins; inner tepals white, yellow, orange-red, red, pink to purplish; stamens 50–100 in small-flowered species, to 300 in large-flowered species; filaments colorless near base, in some species pigmented distally, color either matching inner tepals or contrasting with them; styles shorter to longer than stamens; stigma lobes 3–20. x = 11.

Distribution

tropical and subtropical regions in the New World, primarily South America.

Discussion

Species 17 (2 in the flora).

Whether the populations of Pereskia in the flora area are reproducing sexually or maintaining themselves solely by vegetative means remains unclear. The population biology of both species and their long-term persistence in the flora need to be monitored.

Selected References

Leuenberger, B. E. 1986. Pereskia (Cactaceae). Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 41: 1–141.

Leuenberger, B. E. 1992. Leaf-bearing cacti (genus Pereskia) in cultivation. Cact. Succ. J. (Los Angeles) 64: 247–263.

Lower Taxa

Pereskia aculeata, Pereskia grandifolia

Key

1	Plants clambering shrubs or vines; first spines formed in each areole recurved and clawlike, secondary spines straight; fruits not angled, less than 40 × 15-25 mm, never proliferating; flowers fragrant	Pereskia aculeata
1	Plants erect shrubs or trees; all spines straight; fruits angled, 50-100 × 30-70 mm, often proliferating; flowers not fragrant	Pereskia grandifolia